In Situ Coatings of Polymeric Films with Core Polystyrene, Core–Shell Polystyrene/SiO(2), and Hollow SiO(2) Micro/Nanoparticles and Potential Applications

[Image: see text] In many industrial settings, films of polymers such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) require surface treatment due to poor wettability and low surface energy. Here, a simple process is presented to prepare durable thin coatings composed of polystyrene (PS) core, PS/SiO(2) core–shell, and hollow SiO(2) micro/nanoparticles onto PP and PET films as a platform for various potential applications. Corona-treated films were coated with a monolayer of PS microparticles by in situ dispersion polymerization of styrene in ethanol/2-methoxy ethanol with polyvinylpyrrolidone as stabilizer. A similar process on untreated polymeric films did not yield a coating. PS/SiO(2) core–shell coated microparticles were produced by in situ polymerization of Si(OEt)(4) in ethanol/water onto a PS-coated film, creating a raspberry-like morphology with a hierarchical structure. Hollow porous SiO(2)-coated microparticles onto a PP/PET film were formed by in situ dissolution of the PS core of the coated PS/SiO(2) particles with acetone. The coated films were characterized by E-SEM, FTIR/ATR, and AFM. These coatings may be used as a platform for various applications, e.g. magnetic coatings onto the core PS, superhydrophobic coatings onto the core–shell PS/SiO(2), and solidification of oil liquids within the hollow porous SiO(2) coating.